Dynamics of a [2]rotaxane wheel in a crystalline molecular solid

Chem Commun (Camb). 2021 Aug 25;57(66):8210-8213. doi: 10.1039/d1cc03009d. Epub 2021 Jul 26.

Abstract

An H-shaped [2]rotaxane comprising a bis(benzimidazole) axle and a 24-membered crown ether wheel appended with four trityl groups forms a highly crystalline material with enough free volume to allow large amplitude motion of the interlocked macrocycle. Variable-temperature (VT) 2H solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (SSNMR) was used to characterize the dynamics of the [2]rotaxane wheel in this material.